Jack Black is starring in "Year One," a comedy Judd Apatow is producing for Columbia.

Harold
Ramis, who appears in a small role in Apatow’s "Knocked Up," will
direct and co-produce, and Michael Cera, who stars in "Superbad,"
another Apatow production for Col, is also attached to star.

Ramis co-wrote the project with "The Office" scribes Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, based on his story.

I’m really looking forward to Superbad, out Aug. 17. Seth Rogen co-wrote it with his longtime best friend, Evan Goldberg, and it’s directed by the solidly credentialed Greg Mottola. And I don’t see how anything starring Michael Cera can be a bad thing.

Honestly, if no one but this general group of people, and those affiliated with them, ever made a comedy again, that might be best for all humankind.

It’s also just nice to see how brilliantly things are going for Apatow. To be systematically crushed by not one but two networks over two great TV shows, and then to rebound like this … if I may channel someone like Rex Reed, it’s the feel-good story of the year!

My brother Charlie is a huge fan of the Ottawa Senators because, to paraphrase, "They’ve been brilliant for 10 years, but nothing’s come of it. Just like me." We all need these things with which to identify. Even if you’re not a creative person — even if you just really, really liked Apatow’s earlier, less mass-popular work – I think it’s difficult not to feel a strangely personal sense of pride that he’s finally reached this level of success. I hope he’s as happy for himself as I, in my intensely nerdish way, am for him.

Plus, his kids are adorable.

I’m sure I’ve already mentioned this, but bear with me — when I thought I was going to interview Apatow (the day I found out my job as I knew it no longer existed) I asked Charlie (who’d already gone to a preview screening of Knocked Up with me) if he had any ideas for questions. He said, "Yeah. Ask him why he keeps casting his wife as you in his movies."

I’ve been amusing Kevin all weekend (well, I assume he’s amused; I know I am) with my impression of the total awesome groan of impatience and frustration and contempt Leslie Mann gives Paul Rudd when he suggests they have sex that night.

By the way, I did write a Critic’s Choice item on Knocked Up than ran in yesterday’s Lifestyle section, but it doesn’t seem to have made it onto our website.